The Calvary Lutheran volleyball team took a big step last season.
The Lady Lions won their first 25 matches, losing just one of their first 51 sets. The young program experienced its 100th career win and advanced to the district championship.
Aspirations are on the rise at Calvary Lutheran. The Lady Lions' new head coach, Nicole Murphy, brings plenty of success from her volleyball background to the team this season as well.
"They're all very well-rounded, and that's something you really don't see a lot," Murphy said of this year's Lady Lions. "You normally have some girls who are really strong in one position and can't do anything else.
"These girls can play any position at any single time I need to sub them in. That gives me an opportunity to take advantage of that and switch up rotations."
Murphy, a former volleyball player at Helias and then Columbia College, has served as an assistant at Avila and Iowa Lakes Community College. She has also coached with South Wind Rising, a club volleyball team out of Olathe, Kan., for four years.
Murphy jumped at the opportunity to move up to being a head coach and to move back closer to home.
"I've grown up around here, so I watched Calvary (volleyball) when it started," Murphy said. "I didn't necessarily think I would be here in this position from my college coaching experience, but I was excited when Coach (Mark) Buffington gave me the call back that they wanted to hire me.
"I knew they had a great season last year, and I thought with my knowledge and expertise, maybe we could go in there and get a district championship."
The Lady Lions are coming off a 28-2 season, losing only to Father Tolton in the regular season before falling to New Haven in the district championship. The Lady Shamrocks finished third in Class 1.
This year, Calvary Lutheran will play host to the district tournament. Players haven't been shy in telling Murphy they want another chance to face New Haven.
"I know New Haven was one of the teams the girls have struggled with," Murphy said. "I had to do my research, figure out who New Haven was and what their schedule was like."
Calvary Lutheran returns four players from last year's varsity lineup and will dress nine players at the varsity level this season.
"We don't have many numbers, so the fact that they have such success with the girls that come out is amazing," Murphy said. "Even with losing the four girls from last year, having the girls from JV step up and fill those roles is going to be key."
Junior Kate Schlichting and sophomore Jaelyn Engelbrecht will provide the Lady Lions with some height on the front line at middle hitter. Junior Olivia Bexten will join them on the front line as well.
"All three of those girls are exceptionally talented in the front row," Murphy said.
Sophomore Maddie Layson, the lone freshman on the varsity level last season, will also provide some depth on the front line of Calvary Lutheran's 5-1 offense, where junior Grace Smith will be the setter.
Junior Adi Schulte will play at libero. Sophomore Sarah Johnson may also see time at libero, but she is capable of playing on either the front or back row.
Allison Procter and Makenzie Bondurant are the two seniors on Calvary's roster. Bondurant missed all of last season due to injury.
"I've run about six or seven different lineups in practice now," Murphy said. "I think I found a lineup that will actually utilize our two tallest players and also keep our front row big at all times."
Murphy said the girls want to start the season undefeated, beginning with tonight's season opener at home against Belle, and carry an unblemished record into the Dig-for-Life Challenge on Sept. 8-9 in Cape Girardeau. The Lady Lions also added the Eldon Tournament - which includes Blair Oaks in the field of teams - to their schedule.
"The goal is to not lose any games to teams we shouldn't lose to, and beating teams that give us a challenge," Murphy said.
Preseason practice hasn't been much of an alteration for Murphy, mirroring it to what she experienced during her college playing and coaching days.
"The girls figured out from day one that I'm not just going to sit there and we're not going to run a normal, small-school high school practice," Murphy said. "We are going to run a fast-paced, hardcore practice. They've adapted to it really well, even the junior varsity girls."
Tonight's JV match begins at 6 p.m. against Belle, with the varsity match following at around 7 p.m.